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Twin Cities' best entertainment bets for Jan. 24-30

Pioneer Press

Posted:
01/23/2014 12:01:00 AM CST

Updated:
01/24/2014 11:32:13 AM CST

David White scrapes the chin of an enormous ogre head, part of a gigantic snow carving at the State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights, the site of the St. Paul Winter Carnival snow sculpture competition. (Pioneer Press: Scott Takushi)

Ongoing

Event: St. Paul Winter Carnival

Through Feb. 2: They call it "The Coolest Celebration on Earth," and this winter, the chill factor certainly qualifies. The Winter Carnival started Thursday, and one of the major events takes place Saturday: the Grande Day Parade. King Boreas and the Royal Family lead the 2 p.m. parade down West Seventh from Grand Avenue to Rice Park. Ice sculptures are taking shape in the park, and you can stop for a really cold one at the Ice Bar there. Ice skating is offered outside Landmark Center, and exhibits are inside. After you take in the sights downtown, head up to the State Fairgrounds, where the Vulcans are sponsoring snow sculptures (pictured) and the return of the snow slide in the Machinery Hill area. The slide is open from 9 a.

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m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, 4 to 9 p.m. weekdays and noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 2 (details at MNSnowPark.com). The Beer Dabbler is from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. and has moved from Lowertown St. Paul to the Fairgrounds. After the Dabbler, there will be an attempt to break the world's record snowball fight. For Beer Dabbler tickets, go to thebeerdabbler.com. The Winter Carnival wraps up Feb. 1 with the Torchlight Parade and fireworks in downtown St. Paul. For information and updates on all the events, go to winter-carnival.com. -- Kathy Berdan

Friday, Jan. 24

Theater: Almost, Maine

Opens Friday: Entertainment Weekly called it one of the worst shows of 2006, and the New York Times said the "Northern Exposure"-esque collection of loosely linked stories set in far northern New England "may leave the cloying aftertaste of an overly sweetened Sno-Kone." Yet the 19-character play has become one of the most frequently staged shows in the country. Old Log Theater will try to capture some of that populist magic in a production helmed by Kent Knutson. Through March 29; Old Log Theater, 5185 Meadville St., Excelsior; $35-$24; 952-474-5951 or oldlog.com.-- Dominic P. Papatola

Visual arts: Vivian Maier: Out of the Shadows

Opens Friday: Working as a nanny in Chicago, Vivian Maier would use her free time to wander the city taking thousands of photos, from street scenes to beach shots. The New York-born Maier, who died in 2009, was virtually unknown before items from a storage locker were sold because of delinquent payments. Maier had stashed more than 100,000 negatives, thousands of prints and countless rolls of undeveloped film. John Maloof discovered her work in 2007 at a local thrift auction house on Chicago's Northwest Side and took it upon himself to bring Maier's street photography to the public eye. An exhibit of 70 Maier images opens Friday with a 6:30-9:30 p.m. reception. Through March 1; Mpls Photo Center, 240 N. Second St., Mpls.; 612-643-3511 or mplsphotocenter.com.-- Amy Carlson Gustafson

Dance: Maggie's Brain

Friday-Sunday: Choreographer Jennifer Ilse has created a lot of intriguing work with her Twin Cities troupe, Off-Leash Area, but nothing as intensely personal or groundbreaking as "Maggie's Brain." The 2007 work was inspired by her brother's battle with schizophrenia. Taking on the daunting task of trying to convey the affliction from the inside out through dance, she and designer Paul Herwig developed a work that has been hailed as a breathtakingly honest examination of the intense internal struggles faced by many with mental illness. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday; Cowles Center, 528 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; $25-$23; 612-206-3600 or thecowlescenter.org.-- Rob Hubbard

Dance: Minnesota Dance Theatre

Opens Friday: MDT is on the road to NoWare. That is, downtown Minneapolis' Northern Warehouse District. The company presents a new work it created with Dominique Serrand of Theatre de la Jeune Lune and the Moving Company. He and the troupe have set the piece to J.S. Bach Cello Suites, which are performed live by Wilhelmina Smith. Also on the program is a revival of Lise Houlton's sultry slice of summer, "Rumblings," for which pianist Tom Linker accompanies singers Bradley Greenwald and Jennifer Baldwin Peden. Through Jan. 31; Lab Theater, 700 N. First St., Mpls.; $35-$25; 612-338-0627 or mndance.org.-- Rob Hubbard

Saturday: Philadelphia native Patti LaBelle began singing in church at age 10 and, by 12, earned her first solo. In the '60s, she found her first minor success with the vocal group the Blue Belles but didn't really take off until the early '70s and a group name change to LaBelle. The song "Lady Marmalade" hit No. 1, and by 1977, LaBelle was a solo act. Her biggest hits include "If Only You Knew," "New Attitude," "Own My Own" and "Stir It Up." LaBelle has won two Grammy Awards and recently celebrated her 50th year in the business. 8 p.m.; Mystic Lake Casino, 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd., Prior Lake; $62-$54; 952-496-6563.-- Ross Raihala

Pop: The Fab Four

Saturday: There is always plenty of money to be made from the Beatles, even more so when the band is in the news. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the group's arrival in America, so the California-based tribute act the Fab Four has hit the road. The group began playing in 1997 at Disneyland in 1997 and has toured the world. The Fab Four spent four years headlining in Las Vegas, collaborated with the Monty Python spinoff the Rutles in 2007 and performed several shows celebrating the Beatles parody group's 30th anniversary. 8 p.m.; State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; $49-$29; 800-982-2787.-- Ross Raihala

Saturday: Hailing from Mali, Bassekou Kouyate is considered the greatest modern exponent of the ngoni, an ancient West African type of lute. After Kouyate made his recording debut in 2007, his second album was nominated for a Grammy. He has toured internationally and performed with Paul McCartney and Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones at a major African festival. In 2010, he toured with banjo player Bela Fleck. His wife, Amy Sacko, is also a successful solo artist and sings lead in Kouyate's band. In 2013, Kouyate released his socially conscious third album, recorded in the midst of civil turmoil in the capital of Mali. 8 p.m.; Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls.; $25; 612-338-2674 or thecedar.org.-- Dan Emerson

Family: Winter on the Hill

Saturday-Sunday: Special tours of the James J. Hill House will focus on the Hill family's involvement with the Winter Carnival and how families in the Gilded Age passed those long winter hours. Check out a wolverine carriage blanket and Great Northern Railway Winter Carnival uniforms. Thenm try your hand at old-fashioned jigsaw puzzles, games, crocheting or quilting in the mansion's historic rooms. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, 1-3:30 p.m. Sunday; James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Ave., St. Paul; $9-$6, ages younger than 6 free; reservations, 651-297-2555 or mnhs.org.-- Maja Beckstrom

Dance: Homecoming: A Chinese New Year's Tale

Saturday-Sunday: Over the past two decades, CAMM Chinese Dance Theater has grown from a small school into a performing company that mounts an ambitious show every January for the Chinese New Year. Artistic director Teng Lili leads the company in the two-act dance drama "Homecoming: A Chinese New Year's Tale." Two intertwining stories were inspired by the modern New Year's holiday in China, when millions of urban workers take trains back to their home villages. In one story, a pair of sisters long for their working parents' return. In the other, a couple discover a New Year's gift left behind at the train station and embark on a quest to deliver it. 7 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; the O'Shaughnessy, St. Catherine University, 2004 Randolph Ave., St. Paul; $20-$15; 651-690-6700 or oshag.stkate.edu.-- Maja Beckstrom

Family: Art Sled Rally

Saturday: A hunk of cheese, a race car, a honeycomb with bees and a small rocket ship are some of the arty sleds that have been seen sliding down the hills of Powderhorn Park at its spirited Art Sled Rally. So get creative and bring your decked-out sled to the park's northwestern slopes. If you want to get in on the winter fun, bring a helmet (all participants must wear one) and make sure to sign a waver before take-off. 2-5 p.m.; Powderhorn Park, 3400 15th Ave. S., Mpls.; artsledrally.com.-- Amy Carlson Gustafson

Family: Winter Carnage

Saturday: Cheer on the Atomic Bombshells, Garda Belts, Dagger Dolls and Rockits as they try to outmaneuver each other on the track at the Minnesota RollerGirls' Winter Carnage bout. Whether you choose to get up close with a ringside seat or hang out in the balcony, plenty of sizzlin' action will take your mind off the cold. 7:30 p.m.; Roy Wilkins Auditorium, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $13-$15 in advance, $16-$18 at the door; 800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.-- Amy Carlson Gustafson

Family: Zinghoppers Kidz Dance Party

Saturday: Former preschool teachers Jack and Kitty Norton turned their love of hip-hop and electronic dance music into a TV show and tour for kids. As "J-Star" and "DJ Kitty," the husband-and-wife team host the "The Zinghoppers!", which airs on several public-TV stations. The couple will perform rocking original songs that will get everyone up and dancing. 10:30 a.m.; Red Balloon Bookshop, 891 Grand Ave., St. Paul; free; 651-224-8320, redballoonbookshop.com or zinghoppers.com.-- Maja Beckstrom

Pop: Charlie Mars

Saturday: Strong support from Cities 97 helped Mississippi singer/songwriter Charlie Mars become a familiar face in local clubs. Mars put out an ill-fated major-label album in 2004, but his 2009 single, "Listen to the Darkside," gave his career the momentum it needed. His most recent album, "Blackberry Light," has earned comparisons to Bob Marley, Bill Withers and Jason Mraz and is also available in a deluxe version that includes a bonus acoustic disc. 7 and 9 p.m.; Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, 1010 Nicollet Ave., Mpls.; $20; 612-332-1010.-- Ross Raihala

Family: Frosty Fun Festival

Saturday: If anyone knows how to have fun outside in winter, it's the hardy folks from the Dodge Nature Center preschool, who send kids out in all weather. The center's annual winter festival offers a medallion hunt, sledding, art activities, ice bowling, ice golf, kick sleds, snowshoeing and, for the first time, skating on Prairie Farm (bring your own skates). There will also be a bonfire and reindeer sleigh rides for an additional fee. 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.; Dodge Nature Center, 1701 Charlton St., West St. Paul; $20-$5; 651-455-4531 or dodgenaturecenter.org.-- Maja Beckstrom

Opera: Macbeth

Opens Saturday: Great things happened when Giuseppe Verdi met William Shakespeare. Italy's master romantic composer adapted three Shakespeare plays to the operatic stage, but the best of them might be "Macbeth." This new production features a pair of impressive leads in bass-baritone Greer Grimsley, fresh from triumphs in Wagner operas at the Met and Seattle and San Francisco operas, and soprano Brenda Harris, last here in "Nabucco" (as was director Joel Ivany) but equally memorable as Queen Elizabeth in the "Tudor Trilogy." They're the scheming spouses who murder their way to the top in Scotland. Through Feb. 2; Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; $200-$20; 612-333-6669 or mnopera.org. -- Rob Hubbard

Family: Annual Championship Cat Show

Saturday-Sunday: All cats think they are royalty, but the Saintly City Cat Club's 38th Annual Championship Cat Show bestows the crown on only one male and one female feline. About 200 cats of various breeds will vie for the honor, including Persian, Maine Coon and the hairless Sphinx. The highest scoring male and female cats will be crowned by St. Paul Winter Carnival Royalty on Sunday afternoon. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sunday; Roy Wilkins Exhibition Hall, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $4-$3; theroy.org.-- Maja Beckstrom

Music: Wilbur Cares concert

Saturday: Famous Dave's is staging its annual Wilbur Cares concert to benefit the Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. Event proceeds will go directly to funding a new private patient room at Children's. The Devon Worley Band will open the show at 5 p.m., followed by the Mooseknuckle Brothers and the Soul Tight Committee. The event also will include a silent auction and games. 5 p.m.; Famous Dave's BBQ and Blues, Calhoun Square, 3001 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; $10; 612-822-9900 or famousdaves.com. -- Dan Emerson

Sunday, Jan. 26

Jazz: Capri Big Band

Sunday: "Between the Holidays" is the theme of this annual winter concert by the Capri Big Band, presenting a program of seasonal songs and standards. One of the Midwest's top jazz orchestras, the Capri was formed in 2005 by Jeff and Andrea Keys and the late Gene Adams as an outgrowth of a North Minneapolis jazz workshop. Under the direction of educators Faye and Donald Washington, the band includes eight saxophonists and show-stopping vocalist Aja Pridgen Parham. 3 p.m.; Capri Theater, 2027 W. Broadway St., Mpls., $10; www.thecapribigband.org.-- Dan Emerson

Family: Kick Sleds & Snowshoes

Sunday: Kick sleds look like small dog sleds with skinny runners that extend a few feet behind a low seat. They require less skill than skis and go faster than walking. Carpenter Nature Center will have sleds available to try, along with snowshoes. Instructors will be on hand and blankets available to bundle up kids in the sleds. 1-3 p.m.; Carpenter Nature Center, 12805 St. Croix Trail, Hastings; $6; 651-437-4359 or carpenter-naturecenter.org.-- Maja Beckstrom

Reggae: The Wailers

Sunday: Bob Marley and the Wailers' compilation "Legend" is the most successful reggae album ever, with more than 25 million copies sold worldwide. Even though Marley died in 1981, two versions of the Wailers have continued to tour. This one is led by bassist Aston "Family Man" Barrett and visits the Twin Cities on a regular basis, usually playing First Avenue or the Minnesota Zoo at least once a year. On this tour, the Wailers are playing "Legend" in its entirety to mark its 30th anniversary, although it's safe to assume they would have played all of these songs anyway. Carribean trio British Dependency opens. 7 p.m.; First Avenue, 701 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $20; 612-332-1775. -- Ross Raihala

Pop: St. Lucia

Sunday: St. Lucia is the stage name of Jean-Philip Grobler, who was born in South Africa and raised in Brooklyn. After studying in England for three years, Grobler returned to Brooklyn to work in music licensing while writing his own material on the side. In 2012, Neon Gold Records released his first EP as St. Lucia, and a full-length album on Columbia Records followed last year. Grobler's synth-pop sound has been compared to Passion Pit, a band he has remixed along with Foster the People and Charli XCX. Due to ticket demand, this local club gig has been moved from the Entry to the larger Fine Line. Sir Sly opens. 8 p.m.; Fine Line Music Cafe, 318 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $15; 612-338-8100.-- Ross Raihala

Classical music: The Gryphon Trio

Sunday: When the cold winds blow, many a Northerner derives warm comfort from heading inside and experiencing some chamber music. They perform plenty of it in Canada, where the Gryphon Trio is one of the most acclaimed ensembles. This piano trio intertwines the sounds of violin, cello and piano in fascinating fashion, proving equally adept at contemporary works and classical masterpieces. It makes its Twin Cities debut at a Music in the Park Series concert with the theme "Around the Great War." The program includes works by Rebecca Clarke, Charles Ives and Maurice Ravel. 4 p.m.; St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ, 2129 Commonwealth Ave., St. Paul; $24-$20; 651-292-3268 or schubert.org.-- Rob Hubbard

Monday, Jan. 27

Theater: An Evening With Jason Alexander and His Hair

Monday: Longtime local theater marketer Carl Lee died in November at age 52 after years of health problems triggered by Hodgkin's disease and the radiation therapy used to treat it. Hennepin Theatre Trust, where he had worked since 2007, has organized this benefit, a one-man show starring "Seinfeld" veteran Jason Alexander, a friend of the Lee family. Proceeds from the performance -- billed as a variety show with comedy, music, improv and audience participation -- will benefit Lee's wife and daughters. The $125 VIP tickets include the opportunity to meet Alexander. 7 p.m.; State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; $125-$45; 800-982-2787.-- Ross Raihala

Tuesday, Jan. 28

Rock: Lord Huron

Tuesday: beginning as a solo project led by Michigan native Ben Schneider, Lord Huron expanded to a full band in 2010 after the release of Schneider's first EP. Lord Huron has toured heavily, hitting major festivals like Lollapalooza and Outside Lands, all the while releasing more music, including 2012's full-length "Lonesome Dreams." There's not a lot of fresh ideas with these guys, who draw heavily from Fleet Foxes and My Morning Jacket, but they've evolved into a solid live act. Local band Night Moves open. 7 p.m.; First Avenue, 701 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $20; 612-332-1775.-- Ross Raihala

Wednesday, Jan. 29

Family: My Life as a Fairy Tale

Wednesday-Feb. 15: Hans Christian Andersen is remembered for such fairy tales as "The Little Mermaid." But the Danish writer was also a paper artist, who delighted audiences by snipping away and then unfolding a paper cut-out as he finished telling a tale. The American Swedish Institute commissioned Minneapolis puppet artists at Open Eye Theatre to create a 30-minute show about Andersen's life and artistry. "My Life as a Fairy Tale" coincides with the ASI's new exhibit, "Papercut! The Incredible Psaligraphy of Karen Bit Vejle," which displays the delicate work of a modern Danish paper artist who has been credited with reviving the old art form. 7 p.m. Wednesday; 7 p.m. Feb. 1, 8 and 15; American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Ave. S., Mpls.; $10, ages 2 and younger free; reservations, 612-871-4907 or asimn.org.-- Maja Beckstrom

Rock: Dark Star Orchestra

Wednesday: Chicago-based Dark Star Orchestra spent the past 16 years on the road not just covering Grateful Dead tunes but also entire concerts, re -creating set lists song by song from classic Dead shows. Several original members of the Dead, including Bob Weir and Bill Kreutzmann, have given their approval by appearing with DSO onstage. On this tour, the band will surpass the Dead's milestone of 2,318 performances. As a testament to how faithful these guys are, founding member John Kadlecik left DSO in 2009 to form a new band -- with Weir and fellow Dead veteran Phil Lesh. Jeff Mattson from the Dead cover band the Zen Tricksters has taken Kadlecik's place in DSO. 7 p.m.; First Avenue, 701 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $25; 612-332-1775.-- Ross Raihala

Rock: Willie Nile

Wednesday: Cult singer/songwriter Willie Nile spent the '70s establishing himself in New York's folk and rock scenes. By the time his 1980 self-titled debut album was released, he had attracted enough interest that the Who took him on the road as an opening act. But Nile had trouble maintaining that momentum and got bogged down in a legal battle with his label that caused him to take nearly a decade off from recording. He returned to action with 1991's "Places I Have Never Been" and has continued to record and tour sporadically. He turned to his fans to fund his latest album, "American Ride," which ended up attracting the interest of indie Loud and Proud Records. 7 p.m.; Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, 1010 Nicollet Ave., Mpls.; $25; 612-332-1010.-- Ross Raihala

Thursday, Jan. 30

Classical: St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

Thursday-Feb. 2: During a serious illness in 1969, Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich wrote his 14th Symphony, which was something like a song cycle on the subject of death. Employing Russian translations of poems by Federico Garcia Lorca, Guillaume Apollinaire, Wilhelm Kuchelbecker and Rainer Maria Rilke, Shostakovich created a gripping work. Conductor Hans Graf and the SPCO will perform it with two excellent singers, soprano Dina Kuznetsova and bass Nikolai Didenko. The program also includes Mozart's "Paris" Symphony. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Temple Israel, 2324 Emerson Ave. S., Mpls.; 8 p.m. Feb. 1, St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 900 Summit Ave., St. Paul; 2 p.m. Feb. 2, Benson Great Hall, 3900 Bethel Drive, Arden Hills; $42-$5; 651-291-1144 or thespco.org.-- Rob Hubbard

Rock: The Pretty Reckless

Thursday: Missouri native Taylor Momsen began modeling at age 2 and acting a year later, eventually landing a role in 2000's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." She was an old pro by the time she started her four-season run on the CW's "Gossip Girl" in 2007. But what Momsen really wants to do is rock, and she has been focusing on her band, the Pretty Reckless, whose sophomore album, "Going to Hell," comes out in March. The group is headlining the annual SnoCore Tour, which also includes Heaven's Basement, the Letter Black and Crobot. 7:30 p.m.; Mill City Nights, 111 N. Fifth St., Mpls.; $25-$20; 888-929-7849.-- Ross Raihala